Choo Mi-ae: "Martial Law Declaration Was a Wake-Up Call… Illegal Orders Must Be Rejected"
Ahead of the Ulchi Exercises beginning on the 18th, Gyeonggi Province convened participating training organizations to discuss cooperation strategies. Governor Choo Mi-ae emphasized the importance of security in Gyeonggi Province and organic cooperation among various agencies including the military, police, fire services, and local government.
On the 12th, Gyeonggi Province held the 2026 Integrated Defense Council at Yulgok Hall in the Gwanggyo Government Complex, attended by Governor Choo Mi-ae and representatives of major organizations.
Governor Choo stated in her opening remarks, "Gyeonggi Province is a border region adjacent to North Korea and home to the largest population in South Korea." She continued, "The safety of Gyeonggi Province is directly linked to the safety of the Seoul metropolitan area and the entire nation of South Korea. Protecting Gyeonggi Province is protecting South Korea itself," emphasizing the importance of security in the province.
Governor Choo went on to say, "Today's threats are not limited to traditional military threats. Drones, cyber attacks, terrorism, paralysis of national infrastructure, and complex threats crossing the boundary between military and non-military matters have become everyday security issues." She stressed, "In times of such crisis, no single organization can respond on its own. The military, police, fire services, and local government must operate as one system."
Governor Choo also referenced the emergency martial law declaration that occurred on December 3, 2024. She said, "I cannot forget that day. The emergency martial law was a significant wake-up call that made us realize how important the roles and responsibilities of national institutions are and how precious it is to each properly maintain our positions." She then emphasized, "In times of crisis, the chain of command must be firm, each must fulfill their responsibilities, must know how to refuse illegal orders, and must act swiftly and responsibly in response to lawful orders."
The Integrated Defense Council is a meeting where relevant organizations including civilians, government, military, police, and fire services cooperate to establish and implement comprehensive integrated defense measures in preparation for enemy infiltration, provocations, or threats. It is divided into regular and special sessions, with regular sessions held once per quarter. This meeting was conducted as a practical drill to verify whether Gyeonggi Province's integrated defense posture actually operates ahead of the Ulchi Exercises.
The 2026 Ulchi Exercises are scheduled to run for three nights and four days from the 18th to the 21st. During the training period, Gyeonggi Province plans to operate a "comprehensive wartime situation room" within the provincial government's defense facilities and provide support for situation communication and integrated defense operations.